Summer Dressalong Metamorphic Dress Day ONE

Hello Friends!

I'm so glad you're here. It doesn't matter if you're experienced at sewing clothing or a fresh, brand new, motivated NEWBIE! Let's do this together and have fun. If you have ANY questions, please contact me and I'll get back to you ASAP.

*If you're shy you can email me too- my contact info is on the "about me" page on this blog. OR message me on IG here.

Printed Metamorphic dress patterns are available in my Etsy shop here for a limited time so you can shop and get going.

There are also kits available from several online shops including Stone Mountain & Daughter in California.

This is my Pug Tori with my daughter Ruby. They will be assisting this sew along, as will my daughter Mia (she's the film & photography crew person).  

Feel free to post on social media and use the hashtag #summerdressalong so we can see your makes! Want to join the Facebook group? Here's a link. 

Pin this post for future reference. Once all posts for the month are complete I will build a separate page you can link to whenever you need.   :)

This is a SAFE SPACE to learn, ask questions, comment, and support one another.  Let's get sewing.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This is Meg. This is Meg's photo. These are also Meg's dresses.

The Metamorphic Dress is a wardrobe-building dress for all seasons. Featuring a high/low waist seam and complete reversibility, it's inspired by the possibility of layers - wear it with the tiered skirt and patch pockets, or flip it inside out and enjoy a basic, single-layer pinafore with in-seam pockets. Layer it over jeans, leggings, or a mid-length Stasia Dress, or layer it under your favorite woven tee or knitted cardigan. Wear it on the beach over your swimsuit or favorite short-sleeve, fitted knit tee. The fit is easy, with no bodice darts and plenty of room for the waist. (It is drafted for a D-cup and below.)

Choosing your size

USE YOUR UPPER BUST MEASUREMENT-- the space right above the boobies for the best fit.

Fitting: The Metamorphic Dress is designed to fit loosely through the bodice with large armhole openings, and has no darts – think of it as a jumper or a pinafore intended for layering. The front bodice is shorter than the back bodice, which gives the waist a unique high-low line. 

It is drafted for a D cup and below. However my Artist friend Jen said she's an H cup and it worked for her. So there!

There are no closures.  Whoop whoop!

Cream under dress shown here.

Fabric Talk

It is important to choose fabric, at least for the Under Layer, that is reversible. The wrong side of the fabric will show as the longer layer of the skirt when the dress is worn with the layered side out.

Suggested Fabrics: silk noil, silk crepe, rayon, viscose, linen, linen rayon blends, tencel, chambray, cotton ikat, and perhaps lawn, or voile.


This pattern is intended for wovens that drape, so nothing too structured. The cotton fabrics will lend a more structured look, so go for it if that's your jam, but be warned.

I love mine in a linen over-dress and rayon under-dress pictured above. 

crepe works wonderfully

Stonemountain and Daughter have kits put together for your sewing ease, complete with sandwashed rayon and a printed pattern! Get the Metamorphic Kit here.  

I especially love sewing with silk noil. It's not slippery like the name sounds, but more of a slubbed cotton texture that is easy to sew. They stock a ton of colors: 

This is only a screen shot of a few.

WASH and DRY  fabrics as you intend to launder them in the future (maybe do it twice if it's linen or cotton-y).

Press fabric so it's flat with no wrinkles- a very important step in order to cut pieces out correctly. 

While all the above is being done, get the pattern ready.

*If you have a printed pattern press it lightly so all creases are out.

PDF pattern print out:

1. Download and save the file to your computer (do not just click "open"). I've done this and it didn't work, so be sure to "download" first.
2. Select the correct file- Print at Home OR Copy Shop if you're having it printed at Staples or something. There is also a file containing the instructions for sewing your pattern. 
3. Use a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader --a free download to open the file you want to print.
4. MOST IMPORTANTLY----Print a test page of the PDF on Letter or A4 paper, selecting “100%” or “no scaling” on your PDF printer settings. 

Trace your size with a highlighter on the pattern, then cut out. Or use Swedish tracing paper to preserve your pattern forever. Read this if you need help.

My friend Rae has a beautiful tutorial that will guide you also.

First, find the grain of your fabric. I really love this post by the Collette Blog that explains this. You will want to be sure and lay the pattern onto the fabric with the grainlines (arrows) parallel with the selvage.

Place pattern pieces onto fabric as shown in pattern layout, with weights or objects that will hold the paper down on fabric so no sliding occurs. 

These pattern weights are handy:

Cut out garment pieces from prepared fabric and transfer all markings.

All pieces with the layout diagram are referenced on pages 5 & 6 in the pattern.

*I rec cutting out with pinking shears if you don't have a serger. It helps prevent fraying. 

Find the zig - zag stitch setting on your machine as well (if not serging/overlocking).

You do not NEED a serger to make garments. It does speed things up, and if you'll want to sew more clothing in the future it's worth investigating. But you don't NEED one.  I went three years before I bought one.

    

RST = right sides together

SA = seam allowance

WST = wrong sides together

RS = right side

WS = wrong side

Step 1:
Finish the following edges with a serger, zigzag or tricot stitch.

• Side and top edges of each skirt piece
• Side and bottom edges of each bodice piece
• Around entire in-seam pockets

I zig zag and then also use pinking shears on the edges.

Step 2:  Make the patch pockets.

Cut the template out 5.5" w x 5.75 h  -- I used card stock paper.

Fold top edge of (fabric) pocket down 1/4" and press.

Place onto fabric so 1/4" SA (seam allowance) is all around the template on three sides. Fold top of pocket down again, over the template and press. Slip template out and stitch this folded top. (Fig 9 in pattern.)

Fold up bottom corners creating a diagonal, press. Fold up bottom raw edge to miter corners and press. Press in raw side edges and press. 

Pin to top skirt according to placement markings and sew to secure. Sew a small triangle in each corner for extra strength. 

metamorphic video 1 from Natalie Santini on Vimeo.

_______________________________________________________________________

Step 3: Side Seam Pockets

These pockets attach to the under skirt.


Raw edges are finished (serged / pinked / zig zagged ).



Attach at markings indicated, RST.    

Flip pocket over so you are looking at the right side of pocket and understitch---which means stitching the SA to the skirt fabric-indicated by the dotted line in diagram on right side. 

Metamorphic dress pockets from Natalie Santini on Vimeo.

Solid colored fabric can be confusing when trying to find the "right side"-- so really look at it and mark the right sides of all pieces before sewing anything. I use an erasable pen and draw an x.

I use these:

*******************************************

Great job! We'll pick up next Friday with the next few steps. This was a lot to take in today, so go at your own pace. It's not a race and nobody gets a trophy for being first done. LOL!

Speaking of trophies......

We have fabulous prizes ready! 

We will be drawing them randomly throughout the dress-along so be sure to use the # on social media so we can find you.  

#summerdressalong

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>






Are you ready to go to day two? Click here.

Meg in her wonderful creamy silk noil Metamorphic and hand knit sweater.  Meg's photographers include her children. :D

Many thanks to our lovely sponsors:

A ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to Sew News!

A fabulous prize bundle including Art Gallery denim fabric, a spool of thread, and a package of sharps needles! 

A fat quarter bundle via C&S!

A complete Fiskars set of a rotary cutter, scissors, and cutting mat!

A Minikins Pattern Bundle! Value of $80!

Key Fob giveaway #communityovercompetition  + custom set valued at over $60  See her Etsy shop here.

Gift certificate to Trina's sewing pattern shop - oh and she has amazing zipper pulls for your bags! 

A full year of membership!

PDF pattern bundle of any five patterns

Huge thanks to Rebecca at @hugsarefun for designing our logo!

Don't forget- I'll be popping on the Facebook Group most likely daily to answer any questions. Link here. 

UPDATE: Giveaway closed.

Winners for a free paper pattern are:

Franzisca, Lisa Lisa, and Sarah!

Metamorphic Pattern available here.

Happy Sewing!
XOXO